The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1887-04-01
The Civil Service Facts.

The committee appointed at the last meetlng
OF the Civil Service Reform league, to report
upon the progress of the cause under this ad-
ministraton, sent its report to the press yester-
day. The committee is composed OF George
William Curtis, Carl Schulz, Wayne Mac
Veaeh, Charles J Bonaparte, Charles Cod
man, Charles Clailin, Allen and William Potts,
wro naturally view the subject from the stand
point Of former Republicans, and whose report,
while it practically admits that Cleveland has
done more than any other president for the
cause. does scant justice in some of its criti.
cisms, ignoring the conditions under which lie
came into office. They are we'll satisfied with
the way the president and his administration
have sustained the civil service law itself in the
departments at Washington, where in 10 months
the changes amounted to only G IL per cent.
In the 40 pest Offices and custom houses outside
the capital where the law applies, the results
are of course Of a mixed character. In the
majority OF cases the law is probably enforced
in good fsith, while in some like Indiana, where
party politics run high, there is an evident pur-
pose to make a fuss over 1t. The committee
think that perhaps the president might have
dealt little more sharply with some of the lat
ter cases. Like most one idea men tbev fail to
realize the multitudinous character of the duties
that will prevent the executive from constantly
looking through spy glass at every little office
in the country. Besides there have been several
investigations, Ike those at Indianapolis and
Philadelphia, where dishonest administration
OF the law was charged, and in every case the
complaints have proved groundless.
But so far as the civil service law extends,
the committee credits the administration gener
ally with loya obedience. 1t is with reference
to "moral obligations" as to the Offices that do
not come within the scope of the law, that cliti.
cism Is otf4red OF these officers the postmas
tiers, collectors, United States attorneys, etc, the
reviewers think about one half were changed In
Ia months, and they think the percentage Is
'too large to Justify the conclusion that they
were generally made With sole regard to the
pu blic interests" Here is where the prejudice
OF old party relations shows itself. Consider
ing the fac. that the administration found all
the ffices crammed with partisan Republicans,
appointed for partisan reasons, and that 16, 600
OF these are protected in their places by the
civil service law, reasonable men would not
regard it as at all unjust II good deal
more than half Of the more important
offices remaining had been changed.
The committee admits that tho fact
that all the Offices we're in Republican hands, is
to be cCnsieeled in forming Judgment, but
they do not give it proper weight The famous
secret circular of Postmaster General Villas is
considered at length and approved, if the object |
of it was to get rid of offensive partSans, bnt 1t
is feared that the removals for'partsans hip were
followed by appointments based on party ser
vice. They also think the circular was cllcu
lated to promote the evil which needed TO bs re-
Iormed, -namely the recoh hmcndaiion of post
masters by congressman the report Is
frank to admit that the department is destitute
Of any other channel Of selection of petty off,
GERS for cor munitias hundreds or thousands Of
miles eff. -.o,
Commis siorer Atkins is accused OF spoiis
practices in the Indian bureau, and the pres
lent is censured for not interfering with him.
But the severest words Of the report are applied
% the Maryland appointments, where blacklegs
ard criminals have been appointed and the
has been dispensed by Senator Cor
man. who is denounced as representative OF
he worst element in poiics, and whose boss
SIN has met with loud protests from decent men
n Lis own state There is considerable truth
n all this bnt 1t is also to be remembered that
Mary land factions are remarkably bitter, and
Ill assertions that are made in the name of re-
oim are not to be believed. The committee
encludc that the president has utterly igucred
lis pledges with regard to Mary land, and in
reifna end at otter points 10 certain extent
nd "probable explanation" off.red that sin
political community Of such a character it
eemed to the president expedient for the gen.
raj interest Of reform not to break with his
'arty and thus invite IF ,rts to repeal the law,
r TO bsfils its operation, or to obstruct the gen.
raj course of the administration, but to com.
romise with power that be did not feel strong
nouGh to overthrow"
On the whole, while commending the presi
ent, the report concludes that his course "in
pgard to appointments, removals and suspsn
ions has been irregular. Inconsistent and
ometmes inexp!icable. 1t has not adhered
lA.xib'y to a uniform policy"
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